Ep 28. The Beginning of Interhigh Preliminaries

As the interhigh preliminary matches begin, Shohoku faces their first opponent, Toyotama High School. The episode starts with Sakuragi and Mitsui arriving at the gym to find out that Hanamichi's biggest fan, Ayako, has brought a bunch of girls to watch the game. While Sakuragi is initially thrilled to see so many girls, he becomes stressed when he discovers that they are all cheering for Toyotama.

As the game gets underway, Shohoku starts out strong. Mitsui manages to score the first basket of the game, and Sakuragi impresses the crowd with his powerful jumping ability. However, Toyotama quickly catches up and proves to be a formidable opponent. The two teams battle back and forth throughout the first half, with neither team able to gain a significant lead.

During the half-time break, Coach Anzai warns his team to be careful with their passes and to not underestimate their opponents. He also tells Sakuragi to focus on his rebounding, as he is just as important as the team's scorers. Meanwhile, Toyotama's coach tells his team to keep up their impressive defense and to stay focused on the game plan.

The second half of the game begins, and both teams continue to play aggressively. Sakuragi is determined to improve his rebounding skills, but he keeps getting blocked by Toyotama's tall center. Fortunately, Rukawa, Mitsui, and Miyagi manage to score a few baskets and keep the game tied.

As the clock winds down, both teams are tied at 71 points. With only a few seconds left, Toyotama has possession of the ball. However, Shohoku's defense manages to steal the ball and pass it to Sakuragi. With only a few seconds left, Sakuragi jumps up and makes a miraculous dunk to win the game. The crowd goes wild as Shohoku celebrates their hard-fought victory.

The episode ends with the team riding high on their win and looking forward to their next game. However, Coach Anzai reminds them that they have a long road ahead of them and can't let their guard down. With the interhigh preliminaries underway, anything can happen.

Overall, this episode is a thrilling continuation of the slam dunk story. It showcases both the strengths and weaknesses of Shohoku's team, as well as the determination of their opponents. The game is exciting to watch, with plenty of nail-biting moments and impressive plays. It also sets the stage for the rest of the interhigh preliminaries, hinting at what's to come.